Massage machine



April 9, 1935. R.'-H. HASSLER MASSAGE MACHINE Filed July 29, 1935 INVENTOR April 9, 1935. I R HASSLER 1,997,059

MASSAGE MACHINE Filed July 29, 1933 6 SheetsShee 2 INVENTOR WKHM April 9, 1935. R. H. HASSLER MASSAGE MACHINE Filed July 29, 1935 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 R. H. HASSLER MAS SAGE MACHINE April 9, 1935.

Filed July 29, 1933 6 Sheets-Sheet INVENTOR Huula.

April 9,1935. R H, HASSLER 1,997,059

. v MASSAGE MACHINE Filed July 29, .1933 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 INVENTOR (Mwr H Hmlw BY I April 9 r R. H. HAssLER 1,997,059 I MASSAGE MACHINE I Filed July 29, 1935 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 W 7 .I..- HW

Patented Apr. 9, 1935 MAS SAGE MACHINE Robert H. Hassler, Old Westbury, N. Y., assignor to Gro-Flex Corporation, Indianapolis, Ind., a corporation of New York Application July 29, 1933, Serial No. 682,739

3 Claims. (Cl. 12846) The invention relates to massage machines in which the massaging action is produced entirely by motive power, asdistinguished from devices which are wholly or partly operated by hand.

While not necessarily restricted thereto, my improvements relate more particularly to machines for massaging and loosening the scalp of the human head.

Motor-driven massage machines offer certain obvious advantages, such as elimination of labor, elimination of the attendant, if desired, and a massaging action which is at the same time more vigorous and more uniform. But for one reason or another there is a prejudice against motordriven head-massaging machines and they have not come into, extensive use.

Disregarding devices which employ the vacuum principle and also shampooing appliances (these are not true massaging devices in the present sense), prior devices have failed either because the massaging action was deficient in eiiectiveness or because of the liability of discomfort or even injury to the scalp or of snarling and tangling the hair.

These defects are inherent in the priordevices, in which a substantial movement is imparted tothe applicator, relatively to the scalp, the motion being sometimes eating.

rotary and sometimes reciproa skilled operators fingers.

is characterized This desired action by manipulation of the scalp upon the skull without appreciable rubbing or dragging or pulling of the hair.

Another object is to facilitate the initial application of the device to the users head and subsequent adjustments to vary the pressure of the applicator and to permit application to various parts of the head. It is contemplated that an untrained user may easily apply the device and adjust it without interrupting the treatment. The device is thereby adapted for home use or it may be employedfin barber shops or beauty parlors with only generalsuperintendence.

is believed that the user is better qualified than an attendant to determine the most. effective adjustment.

Another object lowered into engagement with the users head.

fort during the treatment, not merely by. eliminating the danger of pain and positive discomfort, but by relieving all strain and inducing a feeling of relaxation which materially increases the beneficial effects. I Another object, is to enhance the commercial value and practicability of motor-driven massaging machines by improving their appearance, rendering themmore reliable and durable in mechanical respects, and lowering the cost of 10 manufacture and maintenance. i

In the accompanying drawings there is shown an illustrative embodiment of the invention which will now be described. 7

Figure 1 shows the invention, comprising a chair and attached massaging unit, in side elevation, the massaging unit being lifted from the users head.

Figure 2 is a similar View in which the unit is Figure 3 is a fragmentary central vertical sec.- tion on a larger scale.

Figure 4 is a side-elevation of the unit and its I supporting bracket, broken away in parts.

Figure 5 is a bottom plan of the same, partly broken away.

Figure 6 is a fragmentary bottom plan, like Figure 5, but with certain parts in changed posi-: tions.

Figure 7 is a transverse sectional view of the applicator and associated parts, taken on the line l--l of Figure 4. I

Figures 8 and 9 are similar viewsshowing thev parts in altered relations.

Figure 10 is a fragmentary view, partlyin vertical section, of the members shown in Figures '7 to 9.

Figure 11 is a perspective view of the applicator, seen from above.

Figure 12 is a side elevation, partly in vertical section, of the chair and height adjusting device.

Figure 13 is a transverse section on the line I3-l3 of Figure 12.

Figure 14 is a rear elevation of the same merribers, partly broken away.

Figures 15 and 16 are fragmentary views of certain details of the height-adjusting mechanism.

Referring to the device generally, as shown in Figures 1 and 2, it comprises chair I, supporting post 2, bracket 3, head rests 4, and massage unit,

r 5 with its applicator 6.

Chair I may be of any suitable design. Preferably, it should be of the semi-reclining, upholstered type, conducing to the users comfort dur-=. ing a treatment. Moreover, the back and sides should be hollow and provided with framing suitably disposed to support the concealed operating parts hereinafter described. On the right side of the chair within easy reach of the users hand is a switch 1, Which is in circuit, through wiring concealed in the chair, with plug-in sockets 8 and 9 (Figure 14). One of these sockets may be connected to asource of electric current and the other to the motor contained in the massage unit and to be described later. The second socket is not indispensable but makes it possible to readily detach the massage unit from the chair, if desired.

Also within easy reach of the user when seated is crank l by means of which he can raise or lower the massage unit. As shown in Figure 1, the unit is out of contact with the head and this is the correct. position when the user seats himself and assumes a comfortable posture. He then turns the crank to lower the applicator upon his head and throws switch I to start the motor. Guided by his sense of touch, the user may adjust the elevation of the applicator at any time without disturbing his position and without stopping the motor. Thisenables the user to apply the applicator with the pressure best suited to his iri1 mediate requirements at any time during the treatment. He may relieve the pressure if it seems uncomfortably strong or may increase it if a more vigorous massage is desired. Also, when tipping his head forward, backward, or sideways, to bringother parts of his scalp into range, the applicator may be raised or lowered to compensate for the changed position of the head;

Rotation of the crank I6 is transmitted as follows: The crank is journalled in frame member and has a worm formed on its inner end which engages gear IE on shaft |3. Bevel gear M on the lower end of shaft I3 is in mesh with bevel gear |5 on intermediate shaft |5 on the other end of which is bevel gear l5 in mesh with bevel gear" |5 on worm 6. Traversing nut engages worm I6 and is seated in slotted follower |8 which is secured to post 2 near its lower end. The post is aligned and guided by an elongated flanged channel 9 which is closed by cover plate 20 and bolted to'frame member 2| (Figure 13). 22 is a finishing cap which is screwed to channel l9 Bracket 3 has a slot 23 (Figure 5) which receives post 2 and the bracket is removably attached to the post by screws 24. The bracket is of channel form and terminates at its inner end in a yoke 25 which embraces and rigidly supports the message unit 5. r

A pair of padded head rests 4 are positioned to engage the back of the head, affording a comfortable support and resistance to the tendency of the applicator to move the head. This is an important feature of the invention, because movement of the head with the applicator would be uncomfortable and fatiguing to the user and would materially diminish the massaging action, which depends upon manipulating the scalp while the skull remains substantially in fixed position.

Each head rest has a central socket 26 in which is seated aball 21 formed on the end of a pin 28. This ball and socket joint permits the head rests to mutually and individually adjust themselves to the contours of heads of different shapes. Pins 28 project respectively from arms 29 of yoke 39 which is pivotally mounted on pin 3|. Yoke 36 has-a rearward extension 33 which coacts with stop 33a to limit the upward movement of the arms 29 and head rests 4. A resilient cushion 34 is confined between ledge 32 and bracket 3, so that the head is yieldingly supported.

The message unit will now be described. As previously stated, it is rigidly supported in yoke 25 of bracket 3. A body member 5 with cover 36 form a casing in which the motor and associated parts are housed. Body member 5 has an internal annular shelf 31 upon which are mounted bearings 38, 39 for the shaft 40 of motor 4|. The motor may be of usual construction and need not be particularly described. Worm 42 on the right hand end of shaft 40 drives (through an inter- -mediate gear and shaft which are not shown) gear 43 which is in mesh with a large internally toothed gear 44. Gear 44 and the applicator which depends from it are supported as follows:

To hub 45, integral with shelf 31, is screwed plate 46 which projects beyond the hub to provide a ledge on which rests a ball bearing comprising an inner race 41 and outer race 48. The outer race has a flange 49 to which gear 44 is secured by screws 50. A second ball bearing, designated generally as 5|, is interposed between the firstmentioned ball bearing and shelf 31.

Boss 52, formed on the under side of gear 44, iseccentric and oblique to the axis of gear 44. Pintle 53 projects from boss 52 and carries inner rings 54, 55 of ball bearings whose outer rings 56, 51 are seated in axial recesses in applicator holder 58.

p The applicator 6, preferably made of soft rubber, is inthe form of a cap or helmet, studded on its inner surface with flexible, preferably integral, fingers 59. A central hub or boss 60 has integral flexible flanges 6| which loosely engage reverse-angled ring 62 outwardly and lugs 63 en-..

gage the ring inwardly. The applicator may be assembled with the unit by slipping the hub portion 60 :over ring 62. Flexible flange 6| rests upon flange 64 of ring 62 when the machine is not in use and is sufficiently rigid to support the Weight of the applicator, but will readily deflect to permit removal of the applicator for the purpose of cleaning it or substituting another, ap-

plicator. I

When the motor is running, gear 44 rotates and eccentric pintle 53 revolves about the axis of gear 44. The movement of pintle 53 produces an an.- nular rocking movement of holder 58 and applicator 6. The annular rocking movement of the applicator effects, through the flexible fingers 59, a massaging action which is known 'inthe art and need not be particularly described.

Because of the ball bearings between the holder 58 and pintle 53, and because the applicator is frictionally engaged by the users head, the tendency of the applicator to rotate on its own axis is materially diminished. Nevertheless I'have found by extensive experiments that some slow rotation or crawling of the applicator upon its axis and, consequently, upon the users head, is inevitable unless auxiliary means are provided to wholly prevent it. This is a serious drawback because even slight rotation of the applicator tangles and pulls the hair. Although the annular rocking type of massaging action is, less dangerous in this respect than a reciprocating motion, nevertheless any crawling of the applicator upon the users head renders the device very objectionable for scalp massage. To eliminate this defect I have provided means for positively holding the applicator holder against rotation Without interfering with its annular rocking movement.

On each side of the applicator holder 58 (Figures 3 to 6) there is 2. depending lug 65 into which is tapped a screw 66. Upon the stem portions of the screws 66 are mounted bushings 61 which serve as journals for the perforated extremities 6B of a yoke 69, The yoke is secured to one end of a bar it whose other end is telescopically seated in a sleeve ll. Sleeve H is seated in a T l2 whose radial extensions '43 are bored to receive bushings 14. From each side a screw 15, having a threaded portion Iii, is screwed into a threaded hole in the upper or lower side, respectively, of a rectangular ring or gimbel frame ll. Reduced smooth portion 1% of screw it is seated in bushing 'M. Ihe intermediate or lateral sides of frame H are also perforated to receive bushings 19 (Figure 5) into which project smooth portions 89 of screws 8!. These screws have threaded portions 82 which engage correspondingly threaded holes in the sides of bracket 3. The gimbel joint just described is protected by a shield 83 which has a hole 8 1- in which bar it rocks and reciprocates.

It will be seen that as applicator holder 58 revolves about the axis of gear 4 3-, it will be held against rotation on its own axis but will be permitted to pass through all the phases of its annular rocking movement, since it can rock upon the axis of its pivotal connection with yoke 69 and also upon the axis of bar Ill. Bar ill will re" ciprocate in sleeve H as the applicator holder approaches and recedes from bracket 3.

In addition to the means described above for preventing the applicator holder from turning on its own axis, I have found it necessary to provide means for preventing the applicator from rawling relatively to the holder. It is not entirely clear just what causes this crawling action, but observation of numerous tests discloses the fact that even when the holder is positively held against rotation on its axis, the pad will rotate on the holder in the proportion of say 3 or 4 turns for every 100 massaging revolutions or oscillations. Whether this crawling action is caused by the reaction of the numerous rubber studs working against the iuisymmetrical and irregular shape of the human skull, or otherwise, the fact remains that the phenomenon occurs in a degree suilicient to render a device of this character commercially unpractical in the absence of means for holding the applicator against crawling. To obviate this defect, I provide a series of lugs fil projecting radially inward from rings 62. Lugs 52 coact with lugs 53 on the applicator (previously described) to prevent free rotation of the applicator relatively to the applicator holder except through a small arc. In the embodiment shown, this would be something in the neighborhood of But while the arrangement which has been described efiectively prevents the applicator from turning on its own and tends to prevent the applicator from crawling on the holder, I deem it desirable to provide further against relative rotary movement between the applicator and the users head, as when the head itself is turned, either inadvertently or purposely in shifting the position to bring different parts of the scalp into the range of the applicator. Accordingly, the applicator is so mounted upon the holder as to permit the applicator to turn with the head in case of need, as when the head is suddenly twisted. If such a movement of the head occurs in the clockwise direction when the parts are in the position shown in Figure '7, lugs 63 will move out of contact with their corresponding lugs 62*; but if the movement of the head is in the counterclockwise direction, lugs 63, which are flexible and preferably of soft rubber integral with the applicator, will be deflected by lugs 62 and slip over onto the opposite sides of the last-mentioned lugs. I have found it desirable to interpose antiiriction means between the applicator and the holder, as for example the anti-friction washers shown at 85.

It will be seen that in solving the problem of successful head massage, it has been necessary to reconcile two factors which are opposed to one another. On the one hand, it is necessary to prevent the applicator from crawling in response to the massaging action, but on the other hand the applicator must turn when the head turns. if it does not, tangling will result from this cause as well as from the crawling action previously referred to. By the means described, I have reconciled these conflicting factors and produced a head massaging machine in which there will be no substantial rotation of the applicator upon the head.

As a further shield for the moving parts and as a guard to prevent the user from accidentally thrusting his fingers between the rocking holder 5%} and the rotating gear M, I provide a collar 86, preferably of soft rubber, whose upper rim is in the form of a groovedbead El which can he slipped over flange 88 on casing 5.

l. A massaging machine comprising in combination, an applicator, means for annularly rocking said applicator, and means holding said applicator against rotation on its own axis, said holding means comprising an arm projecting radially from said applicator and hingedly connected to said applicator upon an axis perpendicular to the axis of said applicator, a keeper telescopically engaging said arm outwardly from said applicator, a fixed support, and a universal joint connecting said keeper to said fixed support.

A massaging machine comprising in combination, an applicator holder, means for annularly rocking said holder, an applicator carried by said holder, and means opposing the normal tendency of the applicator to rotate relatively to the holder but yieldable to an abnormal rotative Iorce.

3. A massaging machine according to claim 2, in which the means for opposing rotation of the applicator relatively to the holder comprises interengaging lugs on said applicator and said holder respectively, the lugs on one of said members being defiectabie by the lugs on the other 

